Low levels of red tide found near South Padre

Aug. 27, 2012 at 3:27 a.m.

Low levels of red tide have been found around South Padre Island.

Very low concentrations of red tide algae, too low to kill fish or cause aerosol effects, were found Friday around the South Padre Island area, according to a release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The algae cells were found in various areas around South Padre, including Boca Chica at state Highway 4, Sea Ranch Marina and the city's Gulf Beach at Gay Dawn Circle.

No impacts were reported over the weekend and additional samples collected Monday from Boca Chica, Brazos-Santiago Pass and the UT-Pan American Coastal Studies Lab all contained no red tide algae, according to the release.

The Texas Department of State Health Services found red tide cells in Galveston Bay two weeks ago and ordered parts of the bay closed from harvesting shellfish or oysters. State health agency officials continue to find cells in Galveston Bay, but no fish kills or aerosols have been reported from the upper coast in almost two weeks.